HADDSTOCK 2026 WORKSHOPS & EVENTS
We have a wide range of happenings for all ages over the weekend. Music, DJ-ing, art, writing, song-writing, nature, gardening, dragons, monsters…. we hope you find something that appeals!
SUNDAY 24 MAY
GRAFT Street Art + Murals – SUN 24th 11am & 2pm, 2 hours – MADE Arts Hub Forecourt – FREE (must book)
Join GRAFT artists Rob Stevenson and Sleek to explore different methods and techniques of spray painting. You will be provided with overalls, mask, goggles and gloves. No previous experience required, come and give it a go!
Ages 12-18. Booking: Citizen Ticket – FEW SPACES LEFT
FRIDAY 29 MAY
Open Mic with The Klones – FRI 5-8pm – The Vic downstairs – by donation
Your chance to sing or play with Klones musicians and get in the festival vibe. Open to musicians or those who have a party piece. Just bring your charisma, or feel free to bring your own mic or instrument.
Groupies encouraged.
Laugh it Off comedy night – FRI 7.30pm (doors), 8-10.30pm (show) – The Railway Upstairs – £9.38
A night of top class side-splitting stand up comedy with Jojo Sutherland. Fresh from her recent tour of Australia, known for her charismatic stage presence, quick wit and fearless honesty Jojo has been making waves in the comedy scene since 2002. Supported by award winning comedian Eddy Midgley, Dan McKenna, Emma Corbett and Murray Briggs; the sharpest dressed man in the grass roots East Lothian comedy scene.
Booking: eventbrite.co.uk
SATURDAY 30 & SUNDAY 31 MAY
ART EXHIBITION – SAT & SUN 11am-4pm – Poldrate, 3rd floor – FREE
Haddstock, in partnership with Poldrate Arts + Crafts Centre, is delighted to showcase work by local artists and makers. We’ll have 3D and 2D work available and the artists will be around to tell you about their work.
Read a little bit of info about the artists.
SATURDAY 30 MAY
What is possible in East Lothian – DISCUSSION with the East Lothian Climate Hub
SAT 9.45am, 1 hour – Trinity Centre – by donation
Start your festival with understanding what is possible for building a better East Lothian and a better world! Join our ELCH kickoff event to hear about what action is taking place locally, what is possible and to feed into what you’d like to see happen.
The East Lothian Climate Hub exists to upscale action: with our communities, with hope and with practical action. They support communities to carry out action that combats climate change and makes us more resilient. This comes in the form of supporting community food growing, planting hedgerows and working with schools to landowners. If you want to get involved in the hub, you can do so as an individual through our local projects, or as a community group through our East Lothian Climate Action Network (ELCAN).
Booking: ticket tailor
Song writing – SAT 11am, 90 mins – The Vic upstairs – Suggested donation £5
Come and join members of the North Berwick Songwriters as they share experiences and advice on how to tap into your creative self and write songs to be proud of. The session will be led by Jonny Williams who will help us find out how to stimulate a ‘Whole Brain’ approach to songwriting! Other members of the songwriters group will be on hand to share experiences and provide guidance. Please bring acoustic instruments, there will be a piano keyboard available.
Sara Sheridan: author talk – SAT 11am, 1 hour – Star room, Library – FREE (ticketed)
Join author and activist Sara Sheridan as she talks about historical fiction, women, Scottish stories and her new book, ‘The Jewel Keepers’.
SOLD OUT
Nature-rich gardening – SAT 11am & 1pm, 1 hour – ELFF, Lennoxlove Walled Garden – £8
Join founder Debbie for a tour of East Lothian Flower Farm in partnership with East Lothian Climate Hub and learn about no dig systems, pollinators, regenerative farming practices and composting. See examples of natural planting to dissuade pest damage, how flowers are grown and selected as well as how ELFF has evolved alongside locally grown flower farms nationally.
Booking: ELFF
ELCH STALLS & ACTIVITIES: Climate Bazaar – SAT 11am-3.30pm – Trinity Centre – FREE
With the East Lothian Climate Hub. Drop-in to talk and interact with an array of groups & activities around climate. Lil (Lower Impact Living) will show how the circular economy works in textiles and teach practical ways to reuse, repair, and reduce waste every day. Rethink the clothes you wear, upcycle clothes, cycle your way to work or town or learn about how breastfeeding supports the climate.
Taming your Random Monsters – SAT 11am & 12pm, 1 hour – Memorial Park – FREE
Unleash your family’s inner heroes in this 1-hour workshop with Random Monster Table! Designed for kids and their grown-ups, this fast-paced session blends creative art with collaborative roleplay set in the magical world of DaunderMyth. Families will work together to design their own ‘Random Monsters’ – representing big feelings like anger or fear – and then use species-specific powers and ‘Leaves of Hope’ to overcome challenges in a guided adventure. It’s a fun, safe, and high-energy way to build emotional resilience and communication skills through the power of play!
Creative writing with Maneet Mann – SAT 12.30pm – Star room, Library – FREE (ticketed)
Join multi award winning author and playwright Manjeet Mann for a creative writing workshop. Learn about the creative writing process and work with Manjeet to develop your own work.
Age: 14-18. Booking: citizenticket
The Love of wild things – SAT 1pm, 1 hour – Memorial Park – FREE
Join us under the canopy of the beautiful giant Redwood tree, get creative using colour and mark-making and leave with your own Fantoosh Nature Talisman.
A playful, arty happening in Nature with East Lothian sketcher Lynn Fraser (Fantoosh Sketching).
Nature-rich gardening – SAT 1pm, 1 hour – see 11am listing
Amisfield forage – SAT 1.30pm, 90 mins – meeting point: Haddington Golf Club – £8
Join Neville Kilkenny on a guided walk to explore the many plants and fungi that can be found in hedgerows and woodlands during late spring and learn which ones are considered edible.
Booking: citizenticket
Dragon Creation with Alastair Chisholm – SAT 2pm – Star room, Library – FREE (ticketed)
Join Alastair Chisholm, award-winning author of the Dragon Storm Series for a fun and interactive session where children will work with Alastair to create their own dragons.
Age: 8+. Booking: citizenticket
Bamff Wildland – SAT 2pm, 1 hour – Poldrate, Granary 2nd Floor – by donation
Bamff Wildland in Perthshire is a pioneering rewilding project that sits amongst some of Scotland’s best agricultural land. Sophie Ramsay, the manager, will join us to talk about the ecological change so far, political barriers and the emotion brought by witnessing wildness take hold. In partnership with East Lothian Climate Hub.
Booking: ticket tailor
SUNDAY 31 MAY
Intro to DJ-ing – SUN, 10am & 2.30pm, 90 min + 15 min sharing – Bridge Centre – FREE
In this workshop, you’ll start by choosing and sourcing tracks you love, then learn how to analyse and prepare them on a laptop so they’re ready for mixing. Once your music is organised, you’ll load everything onto a USB and get it set up for use on real DJ decks. Then comes the fun part—hands-on time behind the decks, equipment overview, trying out mixes, experimenting with effects, beatmatching, and putting together your first mini set. In partnership with East Lothian Council Arts Service.
Jess Aslan is a musician and performer specialising in computer assisted music. She’s a Creative Music Practice and AI scholar and a touring professional DJ.
Age 12+ Max 10 per session so booking essential – via the brunton.co.uk
Wanderwomen garden gathering – SUN 10.30am, 90 mins – Amisfield Garden – £27.50
Slow down and reconnect with nature in a guided mindful garden walk with WanderWomen at Amisfield Walled Garden, ending with an outdoor brew and reflection circle. In partnership with Village Green Gatherings.
Booking: villagegreengatherings
Intro to digital music making – SUN, 12.30pm, 90 mins – Bridge Centre – FREE
An introduction to sound production with Ableton live lite with Jess Aslan. Join us for a workshop that looks at the basics of making your own musical tracks with music software live lite!! Whether you’re a musician that already makes your own music or someone totally new to it that is simply interested in having a go, this workshop is appropriate for anyone wishing to open the door to music production of any type. The workshop is aimed at complete beginners, but anyone with any skill level is welcome to join. In partnership with East Lothian Council Arts Service.
Age 12+ Booking via the brunton.co.uk
Sunflowers & Biophilic Design – SUN 1pm – Amisfield Garden – £15
Create your own hessian sunflower while learning about garden and biophilic design with award-winning designer Lynn Hill of Lynn Hill Garden Design. In partnership with Village Green Gatherings.
Booking: villagegreengatherings
Traditional music for orchestral instruments – SUN, 2pm, 90 mins – Bridge Centre – FREE
This workshop introduces orchestral instrumentalists to traditional music. Participants will explore how traditional melodies, ornamentation and groove can be adapted for instruments not typically associated with folk traditions. The session will focus on learning a tune by ear, exploring traditional phrasing and ornamentation, and developing ensemble playing in a relaxed and collaborative setting. In partnership with East Lothian Council Arts Service.
Freya Rae is a traditional musician, tune writer and educator based in Edinburgh. She performs widely and has extensive experience leading workshops in schools, and community settings. Her recent album Divergence explores the meeting point between traditional music and orchestral instruments.
Young people & adults (for those around SQA/grade 5+ level).
Bring your own instrument – if you don’t have one, check out East Lothian Instrument Lending Library
Booking via the brunton.co.uk
The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners of East Lothian – SUN 2pm, 1 hour – Amisfield Garden – £12
Discover the fascinating story of the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners in an engaging talk by local flowersmith and history enthusiast Ruth Alder. In partnership with Village Green Gatherings.
Booking: villagegreengatherings